Comments on: Is Gerrard v Lampard Really England’s Biggest Problem Right Now?

By: BD Condell

BD Condell — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:35:40 +0000

I’m not English but I like to see them do well and I’m a Man Utd fan…just to position myself.

Reagrding the article, a cliche becomes a cliche because it is typically a truism. Gerrard and Lampard ARE both excellent players but it surely has gone beyond argument….they can’t play together. They want the same space and it doesn’t work.
I’ve always said that the greatest impact Capello can have is to sort this issue. The rest is just picking the form players in the other positions. It’s Gerrard every time for me. Played in his best role he’s a real force.

Carrick or Hargreaves in the holding position. Barry is not as good in this position and ,for my money, not worth his place.

If you want the stats then here they are:

England with Gerrard and not Lampard: 67% wins
England with Lampard and not Gerrard: 50% wins.

Probably doesn’t mean much. Rotate if you must but DON’t play them together. At the very least it is worth a try.

Calls to not change a winning team are naiive. Some of the performances, despite the results, have shown up problems. It’s about moving on and getting the best from what you have. Too many fans get hung up on choosing the best individual players. Its a team game and the team needs to be, at least, as good as the sum of its parts.

That’s not the case when both Gerrard and Lampard are included.

By: ish

ish — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:46:46 +0000

barry plays as a defensive mid for england. Also lampard would be more effective as a deep lying play maker then gerrard would be. Gerrard provides a threat from the hole which lampard just cant. Lampard has great timing and positioning though and he can also deliver a mean long ball with great accuracy.
I think gerrard and lampard could play together but it would require lampard changing his game more then gerrard. Gerrard provides a greater threat attacking then lampard does just because gerrard can do it on his own, lampard requires his team mates to be truly effective.

By: luise

luise — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:31:01 +0000

Indeed both Lampard and Gerrard are good players. Looking at their performances for their clubs I would consider Lampard to be more effective despite playing next to Great’s like Deco, Ballack and Essien.
Maybe Gerrard should take a more defensive midfield role like the position of Obi Mikel or formerly Makelele at Chelsea. It would still give him the possibilities to play attacking football. I agree with Ahmed that the experience of both players are essential to the team and therefore England needs both of them since they are both in a position to decide a game by only a flash of brilliance.

By: red devil

red devil — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:28:03 +0000

the english midfield should contain hargo and carrick …..not lamps and gerrard

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:18:31 +0000

Richard — But can they play together?

By: Ahmed Bilal

Ahmed Bilal — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:02:55 +0000

Cap’s real challenge will come against Croatia at home and then at the World Cup (we’re going now, aren’t we) where, as Graham said in his review, an undisciplined approach to defending will not work.

I’d like to see Cap at least perfect two or three different midfield configurations with Lampard and Gerrard taking turns playing the lead role. We should be prepared, not just on the training ground but with match experience.

By: glenny

glenny — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:48:06 +0000

i’m saying this with the least disrespect to heskey as possible as i thought he has played brilliant in the qualifiers but to accomodate them both i would play gerrard in the supporting striker role with rooney up top in a kinda free role like this.

james

a.cole terry rio brown

lampard barry
a.young walcott
gerrard

rooney